Two semifinals of the Independence Cup football tournament will kick off on Friday. Traditional Black and White Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) will take on old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj MFS at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium, Goplaganj, at 1:15 p.m.
The defending champion Bashundhara Kings will play against Dhaka Abahani Limited in the second semifinal at 4:00 p.m. at the Bashundhara Kings Atrena Stadium on the same day.
Earlier, Abahani demanded the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) change the semifinal venue and also sent a letter to the Professional Football League Committee (PFLC) regarding the issue when they requested the league committee to organize the match at a neutral venue.
Abahani, explaining the reason to defend their claim not to play at the Kings Arena, said that since it is the home venue of the Bashundhara Kings, they will capitalize on their home advantage. So the match venue should be shifted to a neutral venue. But the football governing body did not change their decision, and the Sky Blues will have to play the match at the Kings Arena.
Competition Manager of the BFF, Bin Taher Ansari, said, “We sent the letter to the Abahani. They have to play on the ground that was finalized two weeks ago."
Meanwhile, Abahani football manager Kazi Nazrul Islam, when talking to the Bangladesh Post on Thursday, said, “We requested the BFF to shift the venue of the match, but they did not grant our application. So, for the great interest of the country’s football, we will play the match at the Kings Arena tomorrow against the hosts (the Kings).
Title aspirants Bashundhara Kings captain Robinho hopes that his team will win over Abahani: “Our only target is to move into the final. It will be a very crucial match, and both sides will fight desperately to win the match.”
Meanwhile, MSC is eager to win against Rahmatganj, and both sides are ready to play the match.
Mohammedan coach Alfaz Ahmed thinks that it would be a very tough match: “Every one of the team is serious about the match, especially captain Souleymane Diabate and his fellow foreign booters, who will fight up to the last minute of the match.”
"If the skipper Diabate and the other forwards could play quality football, then we would win. Strikers will have to utilize the chances that will come their way. Any of the players on the team could be the hero of the match,” Alfaz added.
Meanwhile, Rahmatganj reached the last four for the first time in the tournament. Coach Humayun Kabir said, “We know MSC is a strong team. They have quality players. But we will try our level best. We want to play in the final, so our dream is to win over MSC.”
